Binuweltahan ni National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. ang kilalang gambling ope­rator na si Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang kaugnay sa pinalulutang ­nitong may banta sa kanyang buhay dahil sa kanyang illegal gambling game operations.

“Is it any wonder then that Ang is making noise? Hindi siya ang mamamatay. Mamamatay ang illegal gambling niya,” ayon kay Esperon.

Tinawag din nitong paranoid si Ang at iginiit na tipikal nang reaksyon ito ng mga taong sangkot sa ­ilegal na aktibidad.

Kaugnay nito, itinanggi naman ni Esperon ang paratang na pinagbabantaan nito ang buhay ni Ang.

“Let me categorically deny that I have ever threatened him. He should show evidence or witnesses that I want to see him dead. It is very likely that he is concocting tall tales again,” ani Esperon.

“Ang’s illegal gambling, which gives no revenues to the government, is really inferior to our New Small Town Lottery, which guarantees a daily and monthly revenue for the government,” dagdag ni Esperon.

Si Esperon kasama si Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III ay inaakusahan ni Ang ng pagbabanta sa kanyang buhay.

Opertor si Ang ng virtual jai-alai numbers game sa pamamagitan ng Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. na nakabase sa Cagayan Freeport.

Nauna nang nagpasaklolo kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte si Ang para sagipin siya kina Aguirre, Esperon, at ilang miyembro ng Philippine Military Aca­demy Class of 1982.

“Mr. Ang is a known gambling lord, operating jueteng thru his illegal off fronton shops. He hardly pays taxes and fees. He is into so much illegal activities. I believe the issue at hand is basically a contest ­between a legal operator/regulator that is the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Mr. Ang, an illegal gambling operator,” dagdag nito.